Domestic abuse survivor Sam braves the shave
A domestic abuse survivor has braved the shave to raise cash for fellow victims.
Sam Billingham, who runs support group SODA (Survivors of Domestic Abuse), had her blonde locks sheared over the weekend.
The 38-year-old is now sporting a close-cropped look, but says she is getting used to her new appearance.
Selfless Sam said she hopes the shave will help raise cash and awareness of domestic abuse.
Her father John took the first cut before Georgie Dalby of Blaze Hair salon shaved off the majority of Sam’s hair.
Sam, who won the Fresh Start prize at the E&S’s Great Big Thank You Awards earlier this year, said: “It does feel very strange – my 12-year-old daughter keeps referring to me as ‘Eleven’, the character from Stranger Things.
“It took her a couple of days to touch my hair but she loves it now.
“I thought I would do this in honour of all survivors of domestic abuse.
“People kept telling me I was brave to have my hair cut off. But to me, being brave is surviving an abusive relationship.
“I just wanted to do something for everybody else.”
Sam said she managed to keep her nerves in check until the last moments before the shave. She explained: “At first there were absolutely no nerves at all, but towards the night I kept worrying if I had the right head shape for that kind of hair cut.
“That was my only worry – I didn’t really have any second thoughts until a few moments before. But after my dad did the first cut, everyone was cheering and it was an amazing feeling – it was a real buzz.”
The money raised on the evening – dubbed SODA Sam’s Shindig – will now go towards SODA Bag of Life campaign.
The night, at the Hare and Hounds in Wollescote, also featured a raffle, a DJ set and a guest appearance by Megan Reece of The Voice.
Sam said the raffle had earned around £150 while her JustGiving fund has topped £385.
“All the money is going to our Bag of Life project,” she added.
“That is a bag containing toiletries, sanitary products and mobile phones that we distribute to safe houses across the Black Country.
“There’s still time for people to donate money – or even just their toiletries would be amazing.”
SODA has recently managed to obtain its own office space in Halesowen, with a base at the Hope Centre in Andrew Road.
Anyone looking to sponsor Sam should visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfund ing/samantha-billingham-160
